On March 29, 2010, Plovdiv Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) urged Municipality to cancel the contract with Four Paws Foundation concerning local animal control. Since the beginning of March, Four Paws started a one-month Catch-Neuter-Release campaign.

PAWS came in Stefan Stambolov Square to protest with posters. The association coordinator Dr. Georgi Litov raised а caption "Four Paws - Dirty Paws".

"Four Paws demonstrated their scandalous attitude to the people. You have heard the case with Ljudmil Popov, who was beaten for having saved his cat," Litov recalls. Hristina Bakyrdzhieva brought a bag of bloody bandages. "A man went to take the kittens, and I kicked his cage. Then he attacked me and he ripped my arm."

According to Litov, to the mid of March, just 40 neutered cats were released from the municipal animal control facility where surgery was carried out; while Four Paws reported 180 cats as processed.

The Association President Dimitar Georgiev claimed that the stray dog killing continues. About 1400 homeless dogs have been killed in Plovdiv every year, animal defenders recall. According to them, however, some 3500 should roam the city. But there are no more than 100-150. Four Paws said they are 700. "Where are the others?", defenders asked.

"Over Bulgaria was mobilized when a dog's legs were cutted. But nobody points out that thousands of animals are killed behind closed doors, Dr. Litov repined."

"These people just advocate the interest of a group of vets, Yavor Gechev of Four Paws jumped. They want to conduct the sterilization at their private clinics. They run a surgery at inflated prices and they want to contract with the municipality under these terms."